Senate · Morning Sitting
Thursday, 8 December 2022
Senators urged committee chairs to finalize pending bills before the Christmas recess and to have them ready for publication in January, emphasizing the importance of legislative work over motions. They supported deferring the County Vocational Education and Training Bill to allow thorough review, while raising concerns about inadequate consultation and the lack of ready committee reports before placing bills on the Order Paper. The debate combined constructive proposals with criticism of procedural lapses. The Senate convened a special sitting, formally welcomed a delegation from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies (University of Denver) and exchanged remarks on bilateral cooperation and potential sister‑city links between Denver and Nairobi. Senators also reported the National Assembly’s passage of the County Governments Additional Allocations (No. 2) Bill and its transmission to the President for assent. The proceedings were largely procedural and cordial. The Speaker reported that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, passed by the National Assembly, has been referred to the Senate for its first reading. Senator M. Kajwang’ moved to defer the bill so the Senate Standing Committee on Education and other stakeholders can review it, emphasizing procedural compliance and the desire to avoid future litigation. The Speaker then invited the Senate Majority Leader to take the floor.
Do we have quorum? First Order.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted the Speaker)]
Hon. Senators, on the request of the Senate Majority Leader pursuant to Standing Order No. 33 (1) and with the support of the requisite number of Senators, I appointed Thursday, 8th December, 2022, at 10.00 a.m., as a day for a Special Sitting of the Senate vide Gazette Notice No.15198, dated 7th December,
Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence of a delegation from Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, Colorado, United States of America (USA) who are on an exchange programme at the University of Nairobi. The delegation is at the Senate to observe the Plenary proceedings. I request each Member of the delegation to stand when called out so that they may …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I join you in welcoming the guests that have joined us this morning to follow the proceedings during this Special Sitting. I wish them well in their excursion in the city and in Parliament as they seek to understand the Kenyan parliamentary processes. I also wish them well in whatever else that they find fit to study during their visit in our Republic. Most welcome to…
[(Applause)]
I will allow a minute to Sen. Olekina because he was in school there.
[(Applause)]
I will allow a minute to Sen. Olekina because he was in school there.
We pride ourselves in being the largest economy in East and Central Africa. We have a good country. It is our prayer that we will keep it going. We only have a small amount compared to Colorado of about US$210 billion GDP. However, we hope that we can grow our economy better. I hope that Denver and Nairobi cities can become sister cities. I know that used to be the case many years ago. I thank y…
We pride ourselves in being the largest economy in East and Central Africa. We have a good country. It is our prayer that we will keep it going. We only have a small amount compared to Colorado of about US$210 billion GDP. However, we hope that we can grow our economy better. I hope that Denver and Nairobi cities can become sister cities. I know that used to be the case many years ago. I thank y…
Hon. Senators, I wish to report to the Senate that pursuant to Standing Order 46 (3) and (5) , I received the following Message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage by the National Assembly of the County Governments Additional Allocations (No. 2) Bill (Senate Bills No. 4 of 2022) . The Message which is dated Thursday, 1st December, 2022 was received on 2nd December, 202…
Hon. Senators, I wish to report to the Senate that pursuant to Standing Order 46 (3) and (5) , I received the following Message from the
Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage by the National Assembly of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 49 of 2022). The Message which is dated Friday, 2nd December, 2022, was received on Monday, 5th December, 2022, while the Senate was on recess. Pursuant to the said Standing Order, I now report the Message- “PURSUANT …
Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage by the National Assembly of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 49 of 2022). The Message which is dated Friday, 2nd December, 2022, was received on Monday, 5th December, 2022, while the Senate was on recess. Pursuant to the said Standing Order, I now report the Message- “PURSUANT …
Second Reading
Hon. Sen. M. Kajwang’, you can proceed.
Hon. Sen. M. Kajwang’, you can proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Ordinarily, I would be begging to move. However, I beg to defer this Bill. This Bill has been the subject of consultation with the Senate Majority Leader and the Minority side and also in consultation with the Members of the Standing Committee on Education. The County Vocational Education and Training Bill, (Senate Bills No. 3 of 2022) is currently being considered by…
Yes, Senate Majority Leader, you have the Floor.
Most occasions when we meet, it is either for Motions, which are equally important, but the most important business for Parliament is legislation for substantive Bills that come before this House. Virtually, every Committee has a Member that has requested that their Bill be considered and Committees are taking slightly longer. Last week, when we were considering the business to be brought before …
Most occasions when we meet, it is either for Motions, which are equally important, but the most important business for Parliament is legislation for substantive Bills that come before this House. Virtually, every Committee has a Member that has requested that their Bill be considered and Committees are taking slightly longer. Last week, when we were considering the business to be brought before …
Mr. Speaker, Sir, to be able to bring business in this House and also as the Whip, it will be important for us to whip Members to come when we have a lot of work that will be able to enrich debate and support our counties. If you can update us on how far we have gone on that, it will really be appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, to be able to bring business in this House and also as the Whip, it will be important for us to whip Members to come when we have a lot of work that will be able to enrich debate and support our counties. If you can update us on how far we have gone on that, it will really be appreciated.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I rise to agree with Sen. M. Kajwang’ and my Majority Leader that we defer the County Vocational Education and Training Bill. We have held several sittings with the Committee. I chair the Committee on Education. There are very many clauses in that Bill. Many stakeholders have given their prepositions and suggestions which we are considering. We a…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I join my colleagues to support the fact that it is important to defer this Bill. Allow me to raise some two concerns. First, I believe that before a matter is put on the Order Paper, there must be some consultations, particularly involving the owner of the Bill, the Majority and Minority Leaders. It is surprising that it looks like there was no adequate consultation …
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
What is your point of order, Sen. M. Kajwang’?
Mr. Speaker, Sir, Sen. Osotsi has raised a matter that needs some inspection. The matter of consultation before convening a special sitting. Standing Order No. 33 is quite clear on the procedure and who can call a special sitting. That Parliament is not guided only by the Standing Orders, but there is also tradition and precedence. We have set a precedent in this House that when the Senate Majori…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think you have already given directions. I was just worried because the Senator created an impression that there was no consultation at all and that that is a problem. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you having given directions, I rest my point. It is important to consult, but it is wrong to give an impression that this sitting was convened without consultation. In fact, it was Sen. M. Kaj…
Hon. Senators, that brings us to the end. There being no other business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 14th February, 2023, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 10.43 a.m.